Snorkeling with stingrays will allow you to get closeup and personal in their natural environment. They’re one of the most majestic creatures of the sea. As you prepare to book your USVI vacation experience, let’s dive into some fascinating facts about them.
Southern Stingray (Dasyatis Americana)
The southern stingray is flat and diamond-shaped. This stingray is one of the most commonly encountered creatures of the stingray family. You may find it cruising in the shallow waters around St. Thomas and St. John, searching for food. Small fish, crustaceans and mollusks form part of their diet. Most often you will find the stingray buried in sand.
Docile in nature, the stingray often ignores human presence in the waters. The long serrated slender tail and venomous spine at the base are its natural defense mechanisms. Even though they are not fatal to human beings, it is a painful experience if you step on a stingray.
A full-grown female might reach a diameter of 5 feet, whereas a full-grown male often tops out at a diameter of 2 feet. Stingrays are similar to skates and sharks, who also have a skeleton made of cartilage instead of bones. The gills are located at the ventral (bottom) side of the body. The opening behind the eyes is known as spiracles.
The spiracles are similar to a mouth. They take in water, and it passes to the gill chambers. The spiracles are also used to eliminate unpalatable parts of their prey.
If you want to go snorkeling with the stingrays, it is important to follow safety precautions in the water. A little bit of caution when entering the waters will go a long way in injury prevention, ensuring your safety and the safety of the area’s incredible marine life.
Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Snorkeling with stingrays is a real possibility when you choose Ocean Surfari – Reef Surfari Snorkel Excursions. Please book online or call us today.
